French President Emmanuel Macron urged the United States to reject fear and isolationism Wednesday and instead embrace the historic bond between the two countries to launch a new era of 21st century leadership and security. (April 25)
AP

French President Emmanuel Macron took Washington by storm in late April, forging a closer relationship with President Trump, winning bipartisan accolades during a democracy-defending speech to Congress, and impressing a small group of us journalists with his command of both world affairs and the English language.

When he was done with the press availability at George Washington University, Macron shed his suit coat and plunged in white shirtsleeves toward an enthusiastic group of students who’d assembled outside the meeting room. “We love you!” one young woman shouted. “Thanks,” responded the president of France, who was elected a year ago on a centrist platform that drew ideas from the right and left and appealed to voters disillusioned with the traditional parties.

Macron has his problems back home, where his economic reforms have touched off protests and strikes. But the boisterous scene at the university left me wondering: Where are the charismatic centrists in the United States, the American Macrons, if you will?

France's President Emmanuel Macron stands with US Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and tourists from Chicago on April 25, 2018 during a visit at the Martin Luther King,Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC. Eric Baradat, AFP/Getty Images

France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron visit the Library of Congress prior to addressing a joint meeting of Congress on April 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. Ludovic Marin, AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pose with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte before a State Dinner at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC on April 24, 2018. Ludovic Marin, AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, as they arrive for a State Dinner at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, April 24, 2018. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump accompanied by first lady Melania Trump greet French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron as they arrive for a State Dinner at the White House in Washington on April 24, 2018. Andrew Harnik, AP

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait to greet French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron as they arrive for a State Dinner at the White House in Washington on April 24, 2018. Susan Walsh, AP

Karen Pence and Vice President Mike Pence arrive for a State Dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump at the White House on April 24, 2018, in Washington. Alex Brandon, AP

Apple CEO Tim Cooke and former EPA administrator Lisa Jackson arrive for a State Dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump at the White House on April 24, 2018, in Washington. Alex Brandon, AP

Soldiers holding French and American flags await the arrival of U.S President Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Melania Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron and French first lady Brigitte Macron before a State Dinner at the White House April 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting Macron for a two-day official visit that included dinner at George Washington's Mount Vernon, a tree planting on the White House South Lawn and a joint news conference. Mark Wilson, Getty Images

William Barr, 94, left, of Staunton, Va., a WWII Air Force Chief Master Sgt. E9 and veteran of the Battle of the Bulge who fought across France and into Germany, is assisted to stand as he is awarded with the French Legion of Honor for his service in WWII by French President Emmanuel Macron, right, during a ceremony on April 24, 2018, at the French Embassy in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin, AP

Robert Ewald, 92, of Suffolk, Va., who is a WWII Army Veteran of the 29th Infantry Division and fought at Normandy, left, Stanley Rzucidlo, 93, of Jermyn, Pa., a WWII Navy Veteran who served at Normandy, and William Barr, 94, of Staunton, Va., a WWII Air Force Chief Master Sgt. E9 and veteran of the Battle of the Bulge who fought across France and into Germany, are honored for their service in WWII by French President Emmanuel Macron as he awarded them each with the French Legion of Honor during a ceremony on April 24, 2018, at the French Embassy in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin, AP

President Donald J. Trump speaks as he holds a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House in Washington, DC on April 24, 2018. President Macron will be in DC for three days for a state visit at the White House and an address to a joint session of Congress on April 25. Shawn Thew, EPA-EFE

First lady Melania Trump, right, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, tour the National Gallery of Art on April 24, 2018, with Mary Morton, center, and Frank Kelly, far left, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin, AP

First lady Melania Trump, left, and Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, pause for a photograph together as they tour the National Gallery of Art on April 24, 2018, in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin, AP

Brigitte Macron, left, and President Donald Trump, right, look on as French President Emmanuel Macron kisses the hand of first lady Melania Trump during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on April 24, 2018, in Washington. Evan Vucci, AP

President Donald Trump playfully reaches over to cleans lint off French President Emmanuel Macron's suit jacket during their meeting in Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 24, 2018. Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

French President Emmanuel Macron embraces President Donald Trump, as first lady Melania Trump stands right, during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on April 24, 2018. Carolyn Kaster, AP

President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron walk to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 24, 2018. Trump said the partnership he forged with Macron at the start of his presidency was a testament to the "enduring friendship that binds our two nations." Pablo Martinez, AP

Brigitte Macron, first lady Melania Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and President Donald Trump join hands on the White House balcony during a State Arrival Ceremony at the White House on April 24, 2018, in Washington. Evan Vucci, AP

Schoolchildren wave American flags prior to U.S. President Donald Trump welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House for a state arrival ceremony April 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. Macron and Trump are scheduled to meet throughout the day to discuss a range of bilateral issues as Trump holds his first official state visit with the French president.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

President Donald Trump, and first lady Melania welcome French President Emmanuel Macron, French first lady Brigitte Macron, during an arrival ceremony at the White House April 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting Macron for a two-day official visit that included dinner at George Washington's Mount Vernon, a tree planting on the White House South Lawn and a joint news conference. Mark Wilson, Getty Images

The State Dining Room at the White House is set for the first State Dinner that President Donald Trump will host as president with French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington on April 23, 2018. The State Dinner will be held on April 24. Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP

The set tables for the state dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on April 23, 2018. President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are hosting the Macrons on a three-day state visit. Erik S. Lesser, EPA-EFE

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, prior to dinner at Mount Vernon, the estate of the first US President George Washington, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, April 23, 2018. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, walk prior to dinner at Mount Vernon, the estate of the first US President George Washington, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, April 23, 2018. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, walk from Marine One prior to dinner at Mount Vernon, the estate of the first US President George Washington, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, April 23, 2018. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

People watch as Marine One carrying President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and his wife Brigitte Macron takes off from the South Lawn the White House on April 23, 2018, in Washington. Evan Vucci, AP

Marine One with President Donald J. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron departs the White House in Washington, DC on April 23, 2018. President Macron will be in DC for three days for a state visit at the White House and an address to a joint session of Congress on April 25. Erik S. Lesser, EPA-EFE

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Marine One on the South Lawn with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at the White House on April 23, 2018, in Washington. Evan Vucci, AP

President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron plant a tree watched by Trump's wife Melania and Macron's wife Brigitte on the grounds of the White House April 23, 2018 in Washington,DC. Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk after a tree planting ceremony with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on April 23, 2018.
Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump point toward the White House from the South Lawn with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at the White House on April 23, 2018, in Washington. Evan Vucci, AP

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at the White House on April 23, 2018, in Washington. Evan Vucci, AP

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron in front of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC on April 23, 2018. President Macron will be in DC for three days for a state visit at the White House and an address to a joint session of Congress on April 25. Erik S. Lesser, EPA-EFE

A limousine carrying French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron arrive at the White House on April 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting Macron for a two-day official visit that will include dinner at George Washington's Mount Vernon, a tree planting on the White House South Lawn and a joint news conference. Al Drago, Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron visit the Lincoln Memorial after their arrival in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2018. President Macron is in the US on a three-day state visit. Eric Baradat, AFP/Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. on April 23, 2018. President Donald Trump, celebrating nearly 250 years of U.S.-French relations, will be hosting Macron at a glitzy White House state visit. Behind him at right is his wife, Brigitte Macron. Jacquelyn Martin, AP

The car of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 23, 2018.President Macron is in the US on a three-day state visit. Ludovic Marin, AFP/Getty Images

Members of a U.S. honor guard team roll out the red carpet prior to the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron at Andrews Air Force Base April 23, 2018 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Macron is in Washington for the first state visit hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Win McNamee, Getty Images

When I put that question to several political activists and reporters, a couple of them mentioned Mitch Landrieu, the Democratic mayor of New Orleans who gave a well-received speech on race relations last year, hails from a political family, and wowed this spring’s Gridiron Dinner in Washington with his comedic timing and vocal chops.

Beyond that, though, I got mostly blank stares. And that’s a big problem if common-sense centrism is ever going to make a comeback in the United States.

Yes, I know that seems unlikely at this moment when the two major parties are purging their moderates, when America politics is increasingly tribal, and when the blue team goes home and watches MSNBC and the red team goes home and watches Fox News.

But someday — it’s hard to know when — voters are bound to get fed up with the partisan gridlock and endless bickering that prevents any progress on festering issues such as the deficit, health care and immigration. Confrontation will become less fashionable. Compromise won’t be seen as a dirty word.

Plenty of groups — with names such as No Labels (which spawned the House Problem Solvers Caucus), The New Center, the Bipartisan Policy Center, Unite America and Level the Playing Field — are trying to hasten the arrival of that blessed day. Some are trying to bring Republicans and Democrats together, some are trying to nurture viable third parties, and some are promoting political reforms to break what they call the two-party “duopoly.”

They already have a potentially receptive plurality. Even in the highly divisive 2016 presidential election, 26 percent of voters described themselves as liberal, 35 percent as conservative — and 39 percent as moderate.

These days, however, you can’t win elections with manifestos and position papers alone. You need money, you need organization and especially, in the reality television era, you need charismatic candidates at the local, state and national levels. No matter how vulnerable an incumbent is, you can’t beat someone with no one.

Two of the best-known centrists — former senator Joe Lieberman and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, are both 76 years old, and neither is Mr. Excitement.

That’s where Macron, 40, comes in. What plays in Paris can also play in Pittsburgh. France’s dynamic leader shows that being centrist doesn’t have to mean being bland.